August 05, 2009

A year after its extreme makeover of "At the Movies" went over like "Heaven's Gate," Disney's ABC Media Productions said Wednesday it is overhauling the Chicago-based syndicated TV program yet again in hopes of reconnecting with its respected past.

Gone are Ben Lyons of E! Entertainment Television and Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies, the cable hosts Disney chose last summer to front what it called "the next generation of the series," in favor of a return to dueling newspaper film critics, Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune and A.O. Scott of the New York Times.

Both Phillips and Scott filled in for Pulitzer Prize winner Roger Ebert opposite fellow Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper in the earlier incarnation of the program, which traces its roots to Chicago public broadcaster WTTW-Ch. 11 in 1975, when Ebert was first paired on-air with Gene Siskel, the late Chicago Tribune reviewer.

The new pair will make its debut when the series begins its new season Sept. 5 on ABC-owned WLS-Ch. 7, where the show is produced for syndication by Disney-ABC Domestic Televison.

“We are thrilled that A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips will be lending their well-respected and influential voices to 'At the Movies,' ” Brian Frons, who oversees ABC Media Productions as president of daytime for the Disney-ABC Television Group, said in a statement. “They are regarded by millions of people as authorities in film criticism and will take the series back to its roots of one-on-one film debate that was established when the show first began with Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel.”

Ebert and Roeper split with Disney last summer as their old show underwent several changes. Some such as a new theme song and set were minor. Others, such as the hiring of Lyons and Mankiewicz and including the input of other critics, were major. Very little of it seemed to gain a foothold, particularly with those who had been drawn to the original show.

Siskel and Ebert and later Roeper and his counterparts engaged viewers by talking about films -- both big and small, domestic and international -- in a sophisticated way that allowed them to share both their obvious love of movies as well as for spirited, well-considered debate.

Mankiewicz would escape much of the criticism directed at the revamped "At the Movies," most of which targeted Lyons, whose inability to articulate his opinions undercut his cinematic knowledge and critical skills.

Too often Lyons sounded as though he were dictating a blurb for an ad, rather than giving serious counsel as to whether a consumer should buy a ticket, rent a DVD or skip a film altogether.

“We tried something new last season and we think the world of Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz," Frons said. "They did everything we asked of them and they have been complete professionals. However, we’ve decided to return the show to its original essence – two traditional film critics discussing current motion picture and DVD releases. We thank them for their hard work and dedication this past year and wish them nothing but the best on all of their future endeavors.”

Phillips has been the Chicago Tribune's film critic since 2006. He has written about entertainment and the arts for the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Dallas Times-Herald and the Twin Cities weekly City Pages, and also covered movies for Minnesota Public Radio, WGN-AM and MSNBC.

"I can't wait to mix it up with Tony, who's one of the sharpest critical voices in the nation," Phillips said. "To co-host a show with such an extraordinary legacy is a privilege and an opportunity. I know we're both humbled by that legacy, and we're eager to get people thinking--really thinking--about movies and to guide cinema lovers in the right direction. And perhaps some unexpected directions."

Scott has been a film critic at the New York Times for nearly 10 years and been a frequent guest on PBS' "Charlie Rose," NPR’s "Talk of the Nation" and other radio and television programs. Before joining the Times, Scott was the Sunday book critic at Newsday and a freelance contributor to dozens of publications, including the New Yorker, Wall Street Journal and The New York Review of Books and Slate.

“I’m overjoyed and honored to be joining 'At the Movies,' and especially excited to be working with my colleague Michael Phillips, one of the most intelligent and wittiest critics around,” Scott said in the announcement. “This show, with its long history and rich tradition, stands for the idea that there is a place on television for vigorous argument and independent thinking about movies.”

Phillips, 48, and Scott, 43, have the respect of readers and their peers, but whether the new team enjoys the same kind of chemistry that Ebert shared with Siskel and Roeper and can engage in the show's old brand of lively give-and-take will be among the challenges in regaining the show's standing.

"I have the highest regard for both Michael Phillips and Tony Scott," Ebert said by e-mail.

Siskel and Ebert were anything but polished themselves when they made their WTTW debut, but that may have been part of their charm. The pair went national on public TV in 1978, moved to commercial syndication with Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co. in 1982 and then to Disney in 1986. Siskel died in 1999 and Roeper was named his successor the following year.

Ebert had to leave the program in 2006 because of health issues that have robbed him of his voice, but his name and imprimatur remained with the program until the split with Disney last summer.

A sign of trouble had surfaced a few months earlier as the show dropped its use of "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" as shorthand for a recommendation or rejection of a film. Ebert and Siskel's estate owned the trademark on the thumbs.

"At the Movies" will continue to employ the “see it,” “skip it,” or “rent it” ratings system it adopted at that time.

“I loved working on this show, every moment of it,” Mankiewicz said through Disney. “It was an honor to continue a broadcast legacy not merely started by Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, but created by them. No doubt the show is in good hands."

Comments

I think this is a smart move. The two Bens seemed more intent on getting their gushing blurbs in movie ads than having an informed discussion on the merits of a particular film. I welcome the Misanthrope and the Curmudgeon!

This is good news. Unfortunately for Mankiewicz, a thoughtful and knowledgable man - he will be associated with this poor, revamped format of the show. I like both Philips and Scott, and look forward to the new show.

This is fantastic news. The old version with Ebert and Roeper was appointment television for me, and both Scott and Phillips were among the best guest hosts when Ebert had to step back for medical reasons. I've missed the show, but couldn't stand to sit through the current hosts. I'm looking forward to watching this show again.

--- “I loved working on this show, every moment of it,” Mankiewicz said through Disney. “It was an honor to continue a broadcast legacy not merely started by Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, but created by them. No doubt the show is in good hands." ---

Reached for comment, Ben Lyons had this to offer: "Bummer, dude! Worst day ever!"

--- The man's been dead ten years. Do you really need to refer to him as "the late"? (Posted by: Joe Bone | Aug 5, 2009 2:56:09 PM) ---

Has something changed? Do you see Zombie Siskel walking around somewhere giving "thumbs up" to frightened passersby?

Phillips and Scott should be ashamed of themselves for associating with the people who took "At The Movies" away from Ebert and Roeper. Whether the Bens are there or not this is not the "At the Movies" of Siskel and Ebert. It's been forever tarnished by what it's become. I ANXIOUSLY look forward to Richard Roeper's new movie review show.
p.s. Phillips is more famous for being wrong about movies (particularly "The Hangover") than right. I fail to see what qualifies him to sit in the seat Gene Siskel once occupied.

Thank goodness! That show had become a joke. Scott is wonderful and I've enjoyed Philips when he sits in on Filmspotting with Adam and Matty here in Chicago; hopefully he'll seek those guys out from time to time

Mankiewicz was tolerable; he does ok on TCM. He is definitely knowledgeable, and amiable enough to be welcome in most people's living rooms. I'd like to see him get another chance.

Lyons was an idiot with no knowledge of film history, chosen solely for his youth and parentage. I stopped watching the minute they announced the two Bens would be hosting. With Scott on board, I'll be returning. I'm hopeful the show will return to its thoughtful, reasoned roots, with hosts whose opinions I respect (even when I disagree).

I like both Phillips and Scott. Each is a credible film critic, and I think this is a positive change, but they have similar styles, they even physically resemble one another, and I wonder if maybe they are too similar to pair? Nobody ever had any trouble distinguishing Siskel from Ebert, and their approaches to film criticism were distinct.

Still, I have no doubt I'll resume tuning in again to a show I never used to miss - particularly if all the gimmicks of the Ben & Ben show are removed.

I'm glad they're bringing back Michael Philips but why not bring back Richard Roeper too? Roger Ebert was responsible for selecting Roeper and I think Disney is making a mistake for not bringing him back. Philips and Roeper were great when they were together. Perhaps Roeper declined an offer?

Excellent news! Maybe I'll actually start watching the show again in September. I couldn't stand the hosts they hired to replace Roeper & Co. Watching Ben Lyons just once was painful enough to last me a long, long time. The once-respected show became little more than a bad joke. Perhaps now it will regain some of the reverence it once had. Send away the kiddies and bring back real critics, indeed.

Ben Lyons came across like a deer caught in headlights. Mankiewicz seemed like nothing more than a smarmy jerk who believed his thoughts on film were God's own.

While I know Michael Phillips and Tony Scott will be light years better than the two Bens, it would have been much better (and amazing) had Disney acknowledged it's mistake and rehired Richard Roeper. Perhaps they did approach him?

I also had read that Roeper was working on creating a new film review program. That was a while ago, and I haven't heard any news on that project for some time.

Greater news about the show was not heard since Richard Roeper joined in 2000. For some reason I could not stand Ben Lyons, Ben Mankiewicz, and stopped watching the show completely. They are probably nice people but I hate their taste in movies, and the way the review hollywood gossip instead of films.
Phillips and Scott are a great choice to take over the show.

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This is an expansion of the Chicago Tribune column I have written since April 2005, and the columns I wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times and Los Angeles’ Daily News for two decades before that. It’s TV, radio, newspapers and whatever, both locally and nationally. Beyond sharing what crosses my desk—and my mind—this will be a venue for you to share your takes with me as well as with each other. About Phil Rosenthal